INTRASTAT updates for 2022

Intrastat in 2022 require new data for all movements reported. You will need to include EU VAT numbers, country of origin and new nature of transactions codes in your Intrastat returns. Regulation (EU) 2019/21521 on European Business Statistics (EBS BA) as well as the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197 (EBS IA) replace the previous regulations in European statistics, introducing these changes and requiring all businesses moving goods into or from other EU countries to implement these changes when exceeding the Intrastat thresholds in 2022.

These changes aim to help on the innovation and modernisation of Intrastat, and the main purpose is that each National Statistical Authority could use the export data received from the other EU Member States to compile its own import statistics, as explained by the European authorities. 

What are the Intrastat changes in 2022?

 The 3 major updates implemented in 2022 are the following:

1. Updates on the list of Nature of Transaction codes (or NoT codes).
2. Declare the country of origin of the goods.
3. Declare the EU VAT number identification of the partner operator acquiring the goods.

Also, there are updates on the Combined Nomenclature (NC8) for 2022, as published on October, 2021.

European Union countries are publishing these updates on their national guidelines for Intrastat returns. For example, Belgium, France and Portugal.

Nature of Transaction codes

Annex I, Section C, table 1 (Nature of transaction breakdown) of the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197 (EBS IA) includes the Nature of Transaction codes updated as from 2022. Please find below an overview of the main changes and new codes.

• Transaction codes 11 and 12, concerning transactions where there is a transfer of ownership upon the payment of a price. It is expected the subdivision of this category between code 11 – purchase/ sale closed, except for transactions with private individuals, and code 12 – corresponding to direct transactions made with or by private individuals, including distance sales.
• Transaction codes 21 to 23, concerning return and replacement of goods free of charge after submission of the original transaction. Code 21 refers to the return of goods; code 22, for replacement for returned goods; and code 23 concerning replacement – under warranty, for goods not being returned.
• Transaction codes 31 to 34: these refer to transactions with an expected change of ownership – before under transaction code 1, or a change of ownership without a price – before under transaction code 30. Several new categories are introduced: 31 - movements of stock between warehouses – excluding call-off stock and consignment stock; 32 – delivery for sight or trial sale, for consignment or with the intermediary of a commission agent – including call-off stock and consignment stock; 33 – financial leasing; 34 – transactions with transfer of ownership without financial compensation.
• Transactions codes 41 and 42: referring to transactions with a view to processing under contract (not involving change of ownership), being the 41 Goods expected to return to the initial Member State/country of export, and 42 Goods not expected to return to the initial Member State/country of export.
• Transaction codes 51 and 52, for transactions following processing under contract (not involving change of ownership), being the 51 for Goods returning to the initial Member State/country of export, and 52 for Goods not returning to the initial Member State/country of export.
• Transaction codes 71 and 72: flows relating to quasi-transit for import and export.
• Transaction code 81, concerning transactions involving the supply of building materials and technical equipment under a general construction or civil engineering contract for which no separate invoicing of the goods is required and an invoice for the total contract is issued.
• Transaction codes 91 and 99, for other transactions which cannot be classified under other codes. Code 91 for hire, loan, and operational leasing longer than 24 months, and 99 for other.

Country of origin

Including the country of origin of the goods in Intrastat returns will be a mandatory field to complete as from January 2022 reporting period. This information will be requested in Intrastat returns both for dispatches and arrivals flows.

Country of origin information refers to the country where the goods have been entirely obtained or produced. In case there are several countries involved, it should be included the last country where the good was substantially processed from an economic perspective.

As for the format, the codes that must be used are the two-letter ISO Alpha Codes of the current Geonomenclature, defined in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1470.

VAT identification numbers

Finally, as from January 2022 reporting period, Intrastat returns shall contain the Intra-Community VAT number of the counterparty on the transaction reported. This is according to the article 13.1.a) of the EBS BA.

In case of triangular transactions Member State country may include simplifications. For example, Germany has published in their guidelines for Intrastat 2022 that if the company reporting the Intra-Community Supply does not know the VAT number of the final customer in the Member State of destination, it may be included a fictitious number, consisting on the two letters country code of the invoicing partner, and a sequence of twelve times the number “9” – for example, FR999999999999.

 Also, this requirement of including VAT identification number of the counterparty does not apply for transactions involving private individuals – for example, distance sales.

Get help from a compliance specialist

Intrastat returns are complex monthly obligations with an early deadline every month. They require logistics and tax departments to coordinate their work to produce these monthly reports.

Marosa can help you meeting these obligations in all European countries with a single contact person for all countries. Our automated solution and our team of VAT experts will help on your daily queries and accelerate the process of collecting your Intrastat data.